Fight weekend: Ann Arbor police report multiple people hospitalized after weekend assaults
The students returned to Ann Arbor this weekend after a summer away and the city’s crime log lengthened accordingly.
Police reported a larger number of assaults than other recent weekends, many of them in areas where students either reside or frequent.
A woman reported being sexually assaulted on Washtenaw Avenue, five men assaulted a man trying to enter a house party, a man was punched repeatedly after ordering some late-night food and employees from Rick’s American Cafe were surprised by four men who assaulted them in an alley near the bar.
Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush reported other assaults took place in the 800 block of Sybil, the 600 block of South State Street, the 1100 block of Willard and the 400 block of Thompson. At least four of the victims had to be hospitalized for their injuries.
Man punched after bumping truck
Bush said a 22-year-old Ann Arbor man was walking home at 2:30 a.m. Saturday in the 800 block of Sybil Street. The man walked by a truck that was parked on the curb in an awkward position and told police he accidentally bumped into it.
The truck’s tailgate fell into the down position and made a loud noise. The 22-year-old continued to walk but was confronted by a man believed to be the truck’s owner. The man yelled at the 22-year-old and when the victim turned around he was punched in the face.
The 22-year-old suffered a broken tooth and a cut lip. A 21-year-old Ann Arbor man who was with the 22-year-old also reported being assaulted. The man believed to be the truck’s owner pushed the 21-year-old into a trash container, causing him to fall. When the 21-year-old stood up, he was punched in the face as well.
The 22-year-old was treated at the University of Michigan Hospital for the broken tooth and cut to his lip.
The man is described as white, in his 20s, 5-feet-8 inches tall, 170 pounds with dark hair. The truck was a silver pick-up.
Men punch their way into fraternity party
Six men tried to fight their way into a fraternity party they weren’t invited to, sending two men to the hospital in the process, Bush said.
The assailants showed up to the home in the 600 block of South State Street and were told they weren’t on the guest list. One of the men decided that was unacceptable and punched a man in the face.
The other five assailants quickly joined in, punching the man while he was on the floor. A second man attempted to help out the man being punched, but was quickly attacked as well, being punched four times in the left side of his face.
The two victims attempted to defend themselves but were being punched by multiple people. The six assailants eventually fled the area after a woman called out that the police had been called.
Police went at 1:45 a.m. Saturday to U-M Hospital after being notified of the assault, Bush said. The first victim had several broken bones in his face, a hand injury and abrasions to his neck and legs. The second victim had an eye injury, cuts and facial bruises.
The first suspect is described as a black man, 18-25 years old with a shaved head and wearing a T-shirt. The second suspect is described as a black man, 18-25 years old, 6-feet-3 inches tall with shoulder-length dreadlocks. Detailed descriptions were not given for the other four.
Women arrested after attacking man who told them to leave alley
Two women were arrested after beating a man with a bottle, bucket, snow shovel and broom early Saturday morning.
Bush said four women were arguing in an alley at 3:02 a.m. Saturday in the 1100 block of Willard when a 45-year-old Whitmore Lake man told them they had to leave. The alley is a dead end and the women had no business being there, the man told police.
Bush said a woman with a dog confronted the man and started yelling obscenities at him. The man backed up but that 24-year-old Ypsilanti woman and a 26-year-old Ypsilanti woman continued to come after him.
Bush said the women then hit the man with the bottle, bucket, snow shovel and broom over the head. The man was knocked to the ground and suffered minor head injuries.
The women hit a car and dented a side door before fleeing in a maroon Ford Escape. Officers stopped the vehicle at Packard and Wells and arrested the 24-year-old woman and 26-year-old woman, Bush said.
Men punch and kick man after tackling him off porch
A man was at a house party in the 400 block of Thompson early Saturday night when two men tackled him off the porch of a home and assaulted him.
Bush said the man was on the porch of the home when the men came through the front door of the home and onto the porch. One of the men tackled him from the porch onto the sidewalk and the other man then jumped in, punching and kicking the victim.
The man had to be transported to U-M Hospital to be treated for head and neck injuries, as well as abrasions on his arms and legs. He said he didn’t know the men who attacked him.
View 800 Sybil St in a larger map
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Sue
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 4:39 a.m.
How about every student that is found to be the aggressor(s) in of any of these drunken fights, hazing incidents, or harmful initiation rite of passages, be automatically suspended for the semester. And if they return and do it again, they be permanently suspended. There are plenty of qualified students who would have loved to come to the U of M, but were unable to get in because there wasn't enough room for them. This would help take care of that problem. Besides, after a few suspensions, the students, both present and future, will catch on that U of M is serious about their "no tolerance" policy for that kind of behavior, and they'd think twice before doing anything stupid.
catmi
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.
Just shows why some of us townies dread the return of students. I lived here my whole life. Only in the last two years have I been afraid to walk alone after dark, and it's always been related to student/campus incidents. I hate being afraid in my own home town but recent years these kids are out of control on a dangerous level. It's now "fun" to get drunk BEFORE you go to the bars. Then get really stupid drunk to the level that you don't know what you're doing. Oh yeah, I feel REALLY safe watching young men a full foot taller than me and 75 lbs heavier shouting and gesticulating wildly while barely able to stand and calling out for a fight. Sorry student supporters, but it HAS gotten worse. I work nights on the weekends near the bars, I've watched it escalate. Now I work days.
music to my ear
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
what is with these young adults.dude times are really changing where is the r-e-s-p-e-c-t and dudes are you all safe I bet not. sorry you have to change your schedule to acomodate them, good luck I hope you didnt have to take a pay cut.
Carole
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:16 p.m.
Tell me again Mr. Mayor -- just how safe is our city. This is totally disgusting.
Davidian
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
The 'games' resume. And the 800lb elephant in the room is being ignored.
SEC Fan
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
huh? I don't see no elephant...
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
"A second man attempted to help out the man being punched" -- if Standard English were in the A2 dot com repertoire (which it apparently isn't), the word "out" (as in "help out") could and would be omitted. Lets just give up and re-name Ann Arbor "Hickville" because this story surely never came from the original Ann Arbor News or the original Ann Arbor. From our police leadership and mayor: Ann Arbor doesn't need increased police presence. Oh, really? Seems to me we do. Increased AAPD presence would discourage such brawls and thuggery. Especially since, despite the characterization placed on these incidents as being perpetrated by U of M students, "the Legendary U of M Campus Police" didn't have much to do with any of them. U of M has its own police? What a joke - all they do is screen students and citizens passing through or by their property for weapons of self defense. How ironic that "public safety" is a term so misused. Maybe the idea and practice of self defense will become more popular now that we're having "Fight Weekends" here in Hickville. Probably not though.
Major
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
One word: Alcohol
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 2:06 p.m.
Another word: Consequences.
Brad
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
Sound like UofM Safety needs to add some "babysitting patrols" so that the Ann Arbor taxpayers don't get stuck with looking after their customers.
FormerMichRes
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:41 a.m.
I was looking for the student connection ... and didn't find much as usual. Based on the ages, the perps did not seem like the typical UM student and none were identified as UM students except maybe a victim or two. These are townies with little or nothing to do with the University. Just the dregs/wanna-bes that seem to like to hang around college towns. I'd say A2 has a bit of a gang problem as well. I've said it before ... and I'll say it again ... stop blaming the students for A2 crime problems. Hint: maybe it's all the street people and thugs Ann Arborites like to consider honored guests. Panhandlers paradise!
Silly Sally
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
I agree, these are low-lifes who prey on students
GoNavy
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 10:59 a.m.
These stories are hilarious. Without the students, where would we get "crime notes"? If you read each of these stories carefully, from the perspective of a college student, it's pretty obvious how many of these played out...
David DeSimone
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 6:13 a.m.
In can be expected that crime will increase when so many extra people move in. Add in all the drinking going on and its not surprsing at all. I know two people who grew up in A2 (Huron HS '88) and Pioneer '94. Very quiet neighborhoods off Platt near Packard and the other off Dexter near N Maple (even nicer area). Totally different than the area near campus. I wonder how many AAPD calls are to off-campus student areas compared to the whole city.
Eric
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 5:01 a.m.
And people think that panhandlers and people racing shopping carts are a huge problem?!
GoNavy
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 10:59 a.m.
They're daytime problems. By this time, they're all passed out from the booze they bought from their daily collections.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 4:20 a.m.
I'm troubled by this blog's cavalier attitude toward violence. Kyle consistently tries to make some sort of joke out of every violent crime article. What's going on with Kyle? This was not some sort of fight club - these were mostly violent incidents targeting strangers. I grew up here and went to college here - even lived on Thompson for a while. No, this sort of thing did not happen in the '80s and '90s. Bar fights? Sometimes. Random violence from strangers? Never. I used to walk down Division and Fifth at 2 or 3 in the morning on a regular basis. Nothing ever happened. Never thought twice about it. I blame the court's refusal to lock up violent criminals for any length of time these days. An assault against a stranger should result in a life sentence. Someone who is capable of that kind of assault is completely lost to civilized society. Rehabilitation is impossible. These days, these criminals never even see jail time.
Middle America
Thu, Sep 6, 2012 : 9:40 a.m.
Congratulations on "thinking", "Macabre Sunset"! That must have been tough.
Middle America
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 12:03 p.m.
There are currently more people in jail in the United States that at any point in history. Perhaps building more jails isn't the answer.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:07 p.m.
I think it is cost-effective to build more jails. When calculating the cost of operating a jail, we ignore the cost to society of leaving a criminal free. Why is it ludicrous to lock someone up for life if it's demonstrated that he or she is not fit for civilized society? Rehabilitation is not possible in many instances. The death penalty is impractical and politically incorrect. One of the costs of having freedom is that many people choose to live like animals. Dangerous animals need cages.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.
I like your post (and voted accordingly) but I think others are pointing out that "life sentences" are not doable or practical. So what's the alternative in solving the random violence (used to be, we called it thuggery)? I've lived in Ann Arbor (aka: Hickville) for nearly 40 years and can confirm what you say about pubic safety in this town in the past. We raised our daughter here and she never witnessed such violence. So it's a new problem but the same old "solutions" are being touted. One positive change has taken place: there are ~ 4000 or 5000 people here licensed and trained to carry concealed pistols. I'm definitely not Republican but it was they who brought Michigan up to the self defense readiness of 38 other states. Before (ref. 2002), AAPD had a strongly "no guns for citizens" attitude and the population supported that. It seems that our beloved Hickville still lags behind the rest of the state - which now has over 350,000 adults with CPLs (the number grows by 1000s every month). So long as we let ideological influence keep us back, this town will continue to "invite" thugs who know they'll have freer reign here to commit their crimes.
OLDTIMER3
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
I overheard a man telling a police officer that ",that man standing there has a warrant out for his arrest". The policeman told him there was no room in their jail to hold him, so he called someone from another area to handle it. So it really isn't the courts fault. Don't know if anyone ever did anything about it as they walked off.
Drew
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:46 a.m.
It is a shame that there's more violence in recent years, assaults are up and so is crime in general. However, the idea that a person should be locked away for life for assaulting a stranger is ludicrous. If that were the case, our already way overcrowded prisons and jails would become even worse and already more people are locked up than they should be.
lefty48197
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 9:17 a.m.
Back in the 1980's-90's it was the UM wrestlers beating random strangers.
MSU0284
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:58 a.m.
Hopefully once classes start tomorrow(now that "welcome week" is over), the drunken violence will dim down in both East Lansing and Ann Arbor.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
Or - hopefully - we'll stop tolerating and excusing "fight weeks" as if they are somehow normal and "to be expected." What is the advantage in waiting for "drunken violence" to dim down? Why provide the stage and culture which makes such violence possible in the first place?
tom swift jr.
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:34 a.m.
well, when the football team sets such a fine example, you expect students to behave in any other manner?
Middle America
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : noon
Hey, life is tough for football players. I mean, they go to school for free, mostly choose easy majors, are guaranteed they won't fail out, and spend their free time playing their favorite sport. Life sure can be tough.
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 11:54 p.m.
Wow censored just for saying "students & booze don't mix".....tough crowd
Kyle Mattson
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:24 p.m.
Hi HC- Your comment is currently showing, please let us know if there was an issue regarding your comments coming through by post in the conversation guidelines thread or by email at moderator@anarbor.com. Thanks!
Cash
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 10:44 a.m.
And I was censored for saying that you are right! What's going on AnnArbor.com? Any explanation? We are commenting about the fact that alcohol and students aren't a good combination. No one said the students in question were intoxicated.
djacks24
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:44 a.m.
I know..But the Ypsi bashing that inevitably comes from the comments stays?
Cash
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : midnight
There was no reason in the world to remove that post. That has to be a mistake.
music to my ear
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 11:44 p.m.
just the new showing the old (students) who boss is anyone in ann arbor up for a little anger management class !!!!!
Paul C Schmidt
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 11:28 p.m.
Just when I thought things were getting dangerous in East Lansing!
Ricardo Queso
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.
Have any of their mothers sent in photo's?
jusayin
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
this is really - REALLY a sad commentary on the mindset of our young people. The scars don't heal and the police don't hit re-set for another round of xBox guys!
jcj
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 10:17 p.m.
Higher education eh?
jcj
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
Well I hope this does not hurt our standing on the weekly list telling how this is the best place to live with the brightest people!
Unusual Suspect
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.
We're working on the Top 10 Best Campuses For Fighting list now.
Cathy
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
*sigh*
newsboy
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
Please bring a gun next time you go to a house party!
RJA
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 9:02 p.m.
OMG, this is just the beginning....so afraid it is going to get worse.
nickcarraweigh
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:51 p.m.
Gee willikers, I tell you them kids is just plain smart.
Jack Campbell
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:48 p.m.
Ricks needs to be closed. UM students are not to blame for these fights, it's the unsavory thugs from a nearby place that will remain un-named.
towncryer
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 2:30 a.m.
Where would all the under-age student athletes go then?
djacks24
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.
Its just that UM students must be easy to beat on. The "thugs" would like to not have to drive so far, but EMU students make it a challenge and fight back.
justcurious
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:14 a.m.
Manchester? How do you know the assailants weren't also students?
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 11:56 p.m.
Dexter?
Cathy
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 10:16 p.m.
Saline?
Susie Q
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:38 p.m.
Just think how much worse it might have been if the Wolverines blew out 'Bama instead of vice versa.
Doug
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:24 a.m.
... or if the Tigers won the World Series.
northside
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 7:59 p.m.
The first rule of Fight Weekend is we don't talk about Fight Weekend.
djacks24
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 9:25 p.m.
That's too funny to not vote it up.
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
students & booze don't mix
rm1
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 7:44 p.m.
"The students returned to Ann Arbor this weekend after a summer away and the city's crime log lengthened accordingly. Police reported a larger number of assaults than other recent weekends, many of them in areas where students either reside or frequent." It looks like U-M students were the victims of most of these assaults, contrary to the article's contrary suggestion. So why the bad journalism of the first two lines of the story? Is there an editor anywhere in here? And one of the victims was hit with a snow shovel, in August?
Silly Sally
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:09 p.m.
@Chip Reed - If there WERE an editor...
Rod Johnson
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:47 p.m.
The snow shovel probably just sits there year round. I love nitpicking as much as the next guy, but there should be an actual nit to pick.
Chip Reed
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:29 p.m.
If there was an editor, he wouldn't allow you to write "contrary to the article's contrary suggestion". There is no suggestion that students committed the crimes.
justcurious
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
This is not the Ann Arbor I grew up in or enjoyed as a young person. Things have changed and I can only blame lack of parenting. Parents just must not be teaching their children values anymore.
Middle America
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.
Hindsight is always 20/20. Those good ol' days are a figment of your imagination. I am assuming there was also no annarbor.com to bring you up to the moment sensationalized "news" back then either.
Tag
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.
Oh please, just because you're reading about in now, doesn't mean it didn't happen then. News at 6 -- Old Man Yells at Cloud, Later... The Sky is FALLING! OMG
justcurious
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:11 a.m.
Tom Todd, you're right. Everything does come down to money, who is making it, who wants it and who wants more of it. Parents are so tied up in their careers and getting their kids into activities that the family unit is in shambles.
Dog Guy
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.
Our country exceeds 40% government-subsidized illegitimacy and justcurious "can only blame lack of parenting." Well, duh!
Tom Todd
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
the almighty dollar is king and nothing else matters.
anti-thug
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
maybe this will be A BAD bunch this semster ?
Unusual Suspect
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
So glad to see the leaders and best are back in town.
SEC Fan
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 3:02 p.m.
well, of course they weren't UM students. the fact that the fighting coincides with students returning is strictly coincidental. Oh, I also heard UM whooped up on 'Bama this weekend.
Michelle Pierson
Tue, Sep 4, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
baha!
djacks24
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
Do you have proof they weren't UM students, even though based on the facts of locations and timing of the incidents all signs point to them being UM students? Or do you just assume UM students are too elite for this behavior? Things seemed to be quiet around EMU campus...
Rod Johnson
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:45 p.m.
Why do you think they're not UM students?
Susie Q
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:39 p.m.
They probably have Fight Weekend at the real Harvard, too.
Susie Q
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.
Very funny, but probably most of them are not UM students. But very funny, nonetheless.
Brad
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.
You read my mind. Please stop it!
eyesofjustice
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
Ricks seems to be taking the place of Studio 4, there is a fight there every week!